Red gorgonians are sea fans that reside in the cold waters off the west coast of North America. These fans average 91 centimeters (36 in) in size and grow along rocky outcrops at depths of 16 – 66 meters (50–200 feet). The red colored flexible branches of this species are covered with small white polyps, which are used to filter nutrients from the water. Occasionally other organisms, such as zooanthid anemones, colonize on the gorgonian.